Roll mills



.'March 15, 1955 E. A. SCHWARZ ROLL MILLS Filed April 30, 1952 s Sheets-Sheet 1 a INVENTOR.

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' March 15,1955 5 A. SCHWARZ ROLL MILLS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 30, 1952 INVENTOR. Z/W/ Ga er-keys.

March 15, 1955 sc w z 2,704,023

. ROLL MILLS Filed April 50, 1952 a Sheets-Sheet 3 IN E TOR. W/ZZ United States Patent ROLL MILLS Eugene A. Schwarz, Snyder, N. Y., assignor to The Squier Corporation, Buffalo, N. Y.

Application April 30, 1952, Serial No. 285,119

4 Claims. (Cl. 100-166) This invention relates to improvements in apparatus or roll mills for pressing materials such as sugar cane, tree bark, and others, in which the upper roll is pressed against two or more lower rolls, and in which a turnplate is used to deflect the material from the bight between the upper roll and one of the lower rolls into the bight between the upper roll and another lower roll.

This application is a continuation in part of my copgnding application Ser. No. 215,121 filed March 12, 1 51 In mills of this type, the turnplate is subject to wear and to damage by the material passing between the rolls, to a greater extent than other parts of the mill, and consequently, it becomes necessary at intervals to remove the turnplate and either to repair the same or replace it with another turnplate. This in the past has necessitated a partial disassembly of the mill, such as the removal of the upper housing parts and raising the upper roll to a sufiicient extent so that the turnplate could be raised sufiiciently to enable the turnplate to be lifted to pass in a direction transverse of its length between the upper roll and one of the lower rolls. Since these mills are generally of large size, considerable difliculty and delay was encountered when a turnplate had to be removed. Such a delay is particularly objectionable to the mill owner if the turnplate must be removed during the time that the sugar cane is being harvested or when the pressing of other materials is urgent.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a roll mill which is constructed to enable a turnplate to be quickly removed and replaced. A further object is to 'provide a roll mill having a bearing housing, which is so constructed that when the upper roll is raised to a limited extent, it will afford access to the turnplate to permit inspection and removal of the same. Another object is to provide a roll mill with a bearing housing which is so constructed that the turnplate may be removed in the direction of its length from the mill. A further object is to provide a roll mill which is so constructed that the turnplate may be removed from a side of the mill without shifting or removing any parts of the bearing housings of the mill. A further object is to construct the bearing housings of a roll mill so that the turnplate may be removed through an opening of either housing.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description of certain embodiments of the invention and the novel features will be particularly pointed out hereinafter in connection with the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a roll mill embodying th1s invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view thereof, on line 2-2, Fig. 3, but showing the upper roll elevated and the turnplate in position to be removed in the direction of its len th.

l ig. 3 is a sectional elevation thereof, the section being taken on line 3--3, Fig. l.

Fig. 4 is a similar fragmentary transverse sectional elevation with parts of the mill omitted and showlng the turnplate being removed from the mill.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side elevation, on an enlarged scale, of a roll mill of modified construction.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view similar to a partof Fig. 5 and'showing some of the parts in different pos tions.

Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view, on a still larger scale, on line 7--7, Fig. 5.

2,704,023 Patented Mar. 15, 1955 In the accompanying drawings, the improvements embodying this invention are illustrated by way of example as applied to a three roll mill of the type which may be used for expressing liquids from sugar cane, tree bark, wood chips and other materials. This roll mill as illustrated includes an upper roll 6 and two lower rolls 7 and 8. The rolls may be of any suitable or usual construction and are provided with the usual circumferential rooves 9 arranged on the rolls in such a manner that the annular peaks or projections of the lower rolls enter into the grooves 9 of the upper roll. The upper roll may also be provided at its ends with the usual flanges 10 between which the peripheral portions of the lower rolls extend to hold the rolls in correct operative relation to each other.

The upper and lower rolls are provided respectively with roll shafts 11 and 12 which extend beyond the ends of the rolls and which are journalled in suitable bearing housings arranged at the opposite ends of the rolls. These bearing housings may be of the general type shown in my copending application, Ser. No. 207,885 filed January 26, 1951, and each includes a lower housing member 15 and an upper housing member 16. The shafts 12 of the lower rolls are journalled in bearings 17, one side of each of which is formed to rest on guide surfaces formed on an upwardly extending middle portion 18 of the lower housing member. The upper housing member 16 is of a substantially inverted V-shape or of A-shape as clearly shown in Fig. l. The upper housing member 16, consequently, has two downwardly extending inclined legs, the lower ends of which may be secured to the lower housing member 15 in any suitable or desired manner, for example, as shown in the patent to Faber No. 1,810,102 of June 16, 1931. The inner surfaces of the downwardly extending legs have guide surfaces 19 which cooperate with the bearings 17 for the lower roll shafts, these bearings being adjustable lengthwise of the guide surfaces 19 and the corresponding guide surfaces of the lower housing member. The upper housing member is provided in the middle portion thereof with an upwardly extending recess terminating at a distance from the upper end of this housing member and being provided at opposite sides of the recess with guides 20 for the bearing for the upper roll shaft 11. This bearing may be of any suitable or desired construction, that shown being made of upper and lower parts 22 and 23 which may be suitably connected to each other in any suitable or desired manner, for example, by means or bolts or screws 24, Fig. 1.

The upper housing member is also provided with the usual hydraulic or power actuated mechanism for pressing the upper roll downwardly against the lower rolls 7 and 8, and this hydraulic mechanism may be constructed as shown in detail in said application Ser. No. 207,885. Briefly stated this mechanism includes a cylinder having an upper bore 25 in which a piston 26 may reciprocate. Fluid under pressure may pass to and from the upper portiorrof the piston through a suitable pipe or duct 28 for urging the piston 26 downwardly against the upper bear ng member 22. These pistons in the two bearing housings act on the upper roll shaft 11 to force the upper roll downwardly against the lower rolls.

The hydraulic mechanism in the construction shown in Figs. l to 4 also includes means, such as shown in said pending appllcation Ser. No. 207,885 for raising the upper roll, and for this purpose, the cylinder in the upper housing member 16 is provided with a bore 30 of reduced diameter 1n which a portion of the piston of reduced diameter operates. Consequently, by admitting fluid under pressure through a pipe or conduit 31 and by discharging fluid under pressure from the portion of the cylinder above the piston 26, the fluid pressure may react against the shoulder of the piston joining the two portions thereof of different diameters and thus raise the piston. The piston is provided near the lower end thereof with an annular groove 32 and the upper bearing part 22 is provided with holding members 34 rigidly secured to the upper bearing member 22 and having lips or flanges extending loosely into the groove 32 so that when the pistons in the two housing members are raised by the fluid pressure entering the conduit 31, the bearing parts 22 and 23, the shaft 11 and the upper roll 6 will also be raised.

By means of this construction, the upper roll 6 is mounted entirely on the upper housing member and when raised as described, the weight of the upper roll and its bearings is supported from the lower housing member only through the inclined legs of the upper member. Any other means for raising the upper roll and holding the same in raised position may be provided.

Roll mills of this type are provided with turnplates which scrape the material from one of the lower rolls and deflect the same into the bight between the upper roll and the other lower roll. Reference numeral 36 represents a turnplate of this type, which as clearly shown in Fig. 4 is provided at the leading edge thereof with teeth or projections 37 formed to enter into the grooves of one of the lower rolls. In the construction shown, it is assumed that the material to be pressed enters from the left in Fig. 1, into the bight between the upper roll and the lower roll 7, and consequently, the leading edge of the turnplate will be in contact with the surface of the lower roll 7, and the curved upper surface of the turnplate deflects material from the roll 7 into the bight between the upper roll 6 and the other lower roll 8. The turnplate is securely mounted to resist the force exerted on the same by the material discharged from the bight between the rolls 6 and 7, and in the construction shown for this purpose. the turnplate is mounted on the upper end of a turnplate beam 40. This beam may be provided at its upper end with means for accurately locating and holding the turnplate on its beam, such for example as a groove or recess 41, and the lower face of the turnplate is provided with a longitudinal rib or key 42 formed to enter into the groove 41.

The turnplate 36 may be securely fastened to the turnplate beam 40 in any suitable or desired manner, and in the construction shown for this purpose, the turnplate beam is provided with a plurality of upright bores or holes through which bolts 44 may pass. The upper ends of these bolts are threaded to enter into threaded apertures 45 in the turnplate, extending upwardly from the lower surface thereof. By means of these bolts, the turnplate may be securely fastened to the upper part of the turnplate beam 40.

Since it is necessary to adiust the turnplate toward and from the lower roll with which it cooperates, the turnplate beam 40 is suitably mounted on the bearing houswas in such a manner as to make this adjustment possible. In the construction shown, the two bearing housings are provided on their inner faces with inwardly extending pivots or trunnions 47 and the turnplate beam is provided with suitable bearing parts 48 preferably formed integral therewith and formed to seat on the studs or trunnions 47. The turnplate beam may be adjusted to swing about the pivots in any suitable or desired manner. In the construction illustrated, the turnplate beam 40 is provided at opposite sides thereof with upwardly extending slots or recesses 50 and shafts 51 are mounted to oscillate in apertures in the lower bearing housing members 15. The ends of the shafts 51 are provided with cranks or eccentric pins 52 formed to engage in the slots 50. The outer ends of the shafts 51 are each rigidly secured to one end of an arm 54, and the other ends of these arms may be pivoted to ad justing rods 55 and 56. The outer ends of these rods are threaded and extend through lugs 57 formed on the lower bearing housing member and by means of nuts 58, the adjusting rods 55 and 56 may be moved in such a manner as to swing the arms 54 and the shafts 51 connected therewith so that the cranks or eccentric pins 52 operating in the slots or recesses 50 in the turnplate beam will swing the beam as desired. Any other means for adjusting the turnplate relatively to the rolls may be provided, if desired.

It will be noted particularly that the construction of the bearing housings is such that the middle portions 18 of the lower housing members terminate at a level below that of the turnplate 36, so that the ends of the turnplate are readily accessible through the space above the middle portions 18. By mounting the upper roll so that the same can be raised out of its operative position and disconnecting the turnplate from its supporting beam, the turnplate can be raised so that the teeth or projections 37 will clear the grooves or recesses in the lower roll 7. Also the upper roll may be raised to a sufiicient extent so that the flanges thereof will be above the level of the upper surface of the turnplate when the same is raised out of engagement with the lower roll 7 and its beam 40. The turnplate can then be removed in the direction of its length through the open space provided in either of the two bearing housings.

In order to facilitate the removal of the turnplate, some means are preferably provided whereby the turnplate can be lifted from the turnplate beam and out of engagement with the grooves in the roll 7, and removed endwise through the opening in either housing. This may, for example, be accomplished by providing the turnplate in one or both ends thereof with threaded holes 60, and a bar or rod 61 having threaded ends may be screwed into each of these holes. Consequently, if the turnplate is not too heavy, only one rod need be used so that a man may lift the turnplate and move it endwise through the opening in either bearing housing after the turnplate has been disconnected from its beam. In the case of large roll mills, both bars or rods 61 are employed at opposite ends of the turnplate so that men at opposite sides of the machine may remove the turnplate. Since the rim 42 of the turnplate may tend to bind in the groove 41 in the turnplate beam, the bolts 44 are preferably initially only partly unscrewed from the threaded holes 45 of the turnplate, whereupon by means of upwardly directed hammer blows on the lower ends of the bolts, the turnplate can be forced upwardly clear of the groove 41, whereupon the bolts are completely unscrewed from the turnplate so that the same may be removed by means of the bars or rods 61.

In the construction shown in Figs. 5 to 7, means of a modified construction are shown for raising the upper roll and supporting the same in raised position by means of mechanisms for exerting upward pressure on the lower bearing parts 23 of the upper roll. In this construction, the hydraulic mechanisms on the upper portions of the bearing housings may be similar to those heretofore used in connection with roll mills of this type and capable of exerting downward pressure only on the bearings for the upper roll. Since such hydraulic mechanisms cannot move the upper roll upwardly, the lower bearing parts 23 need, therefore, not be connected with the upper bearing parts by such means as the bolts or screws 24 shown in Fig. 1. In the construction of Figs. 5 to 7, the upwardly extending middle portion 18 of each lower housing member is utilized as a support for a lifting device, and for this purpose, the part 18 may be provided with an upwardly extending projection or platform 65 having a fiat upper surface on which the frame or support for the lifting device may be removably secured. The lifting device itself may be of any suitable or desired construction, and as shown in the drawings, is in the form of a hydraulic jack including a cylinder part 66 within which a plunger or piston, not shown, is arranged and provided at the outer end there of with a head 67. This head, when fluid under pressure is supplied to the cylinder through an inlet opening 68, is forced upwardly, preferably against a pressure distributing plate or part 70 secured to the lower bearing part 23.

When the lower bearing parts 23 and the upper roll have been raised to the desired height to enable the turnplate to be removed, the lower bearing parts and upper roll may be held against downward movement in any suitable manner. For example, in the construction shown, a pair of L-shaped retaining links 72 are provided at opposite sides of the guide members 20 and pivoted on the upper bearing housing. These bearing retaining links are preferably pivoted, for example, on bolts or screws 73 mounted on the upper bearing housing. When these retaining links are held in the positions shown in Fig. 5, it will be obvious that the lower bearing part is free to move up and down in its guides. However, if the lower bearing part 23 is moved upwardly by means of the hydraulic jack or other lifting mechanism, the supporting links 72 may be swung into the position shown in Fig. 6, so that the lower legs of the L- shaped retaining members extend under the edge portions of the lower bearing part. Any suitable means may be provided for holding the retaining links 72 in either of the two positions shown in Figs. 5 and 6, and for this purpose, a removable pin 75 is preferably employed which may be inserted into a hole or holes in the upper bearing housing member. The lower surgro ses faces of each bearing retaining link 72 may, for example, be provided with notches or recesses 76 in the lower face thereof into which the pin 75 may extend for holding the links 72 in their positions out of engagement with the lower bearing part 23. When the retaining links 72 are swung into their bearing supporting positions, as shown in big. 6, the pins 75 may again be inserted into the hole in the upper housing member to hold the links in the position shown in Fig. 6.

The lifting mechanisms or jacks for the bearings of the upper roll are preferably arranged in suitable supports 80. Each of these supports is provided with a base portion 81 formed to seat on the upwardly extending middle portion 18 of the lower bearing housing member, for example, upon the upwardly extending projection or platform 65 thereof. This base may be secured to the portion 18 of the lower bearing housing member in any suitable means, for example, by means of screws 82. The support also includes an upwardly extending wall 83 within which the lifting member or jack is arranged. This wall may have openings therein, if desired, and terminates at its upper end in a flange 84 formed to engage the lower face of the lower bearing part 23. The lifting mechanism or jack may be mounted in the lower portion of the support 80 in any suitable manner, for example, the lifting member may seat on the upper face of the base 81 and the cylinder 66 may seat in a recess formed in the lower portion of the upwardly extending wall 83 and may be secured in this recess by means of set screws 85 or the like.

The overall height of the supports 80 is preferably such as to determine the lowest position of the upper roll, so that when the lower bearing parts 23 rest on the supports 80, the upper roll will be in spaced relation to the two lower rolls, thus relieving the lower rolls and their bearings, and possibly also the turnplate, of the weight of the upper roll. Supports of this type may also be used in connection with the construction shown in Figs. 1 to The links or other retaining members 72 for the lower parts of the upper roll bearings are necessary so that the lifting mechanism or jacks may be removed from the position shown in Fig. 5, since when in their normal operative positions, these lifting devices or jacks are in the path of movement of the turnplate when removed from or placed into a mill. In the construction shown for this purpose, after the jacks or lifting devices have raised the lower bearing part 23 and after the links 72 have been moved into the supporting position shown in Fig. 6, the pistons of the jacks are permitted to move downwardly into their cylinders and the supports 80 may then be disconnected from the mill by merely releasing the screws 82 so that each support 80 with its jack mounted therein may be removed as a unit from its support on the upwardly extending part 18 of the lower housing members. There will then be available an amply large and unobstructed space between the upwardly extending middle parts 18 of the lower housing members and the upper roll to permit the turnplate, when released from its beam, to be first moved upwardly to a limited extent and then in the direction of its length through this space at either housing.

After a turnplate has been secured to its turnplate beam, it is only necessary to again secure the supports 80 and their lifting devices on the parts 18 of the lower housing members. Fluid under pressure may then be admitted to the cylinders of these jacks to raise the lower bearing part 23 upwardly to a suflicient extent so that the links 72 may be swung from their hearing supporting positions as indicated in Fig. 6, to their inoperative positions shown in Fig. 5. The supports 80 and their lifting devices are left in place on the mill during the operation of the same. These supports 80 serve the further purpose of facilitating the correct positioning of the rolls relatively to each other, since by holding the upper roll in fixed relation to the mill, the lower rolls may readily be adjusted into the desired positions relatively to the upper roll.

In prior constructions, when it became necessary to remove a turnplate, it was necessary to release the upper bearing housing members and lift the same clear of the roll mill. It was then necessary to raise the upper roll sufliciently so that the turnplate could be removed laterally With reference to its length through the space between the upper roll and one of the lower rolls. By means of my improved constructions, the upper housing members 16 may be left in their operative positions while the turnplate is being removed and the upper roll need be raised only sufliciently, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, so that the turnplate is clear of the rolls and of the turnplate beam 40. This is effected in the constructions shown in Figs. 1 to 4 by disconnecting the pipe or conduit 28 from the supply of fluid under pressure and connecting the pipe or conduit 31 with such fluid, whereupon the piston will be easily raised and held in such raised position as long as desired. In replacing the turnplate, the rods or bars 61 are screwed into the ends of the turnplate and one of these bars or rods is passed through the openings in the two housings from one side of the mill so that it can be grasped at the other side thereof, whereupon the turnplate can readily be positioned as required, and by means of the bolts 44, the turnplate can be pulled down into its operative relation to the turnplate beam 40.

When the construction shown in Figs. 5 to 7 is employed, the hydraulic pressure supplied through the conduit 28, Fig. 1, is interrupted and pressure is then supplied to the jacks or lifting devices mounted on the extensions 18 of the lower bearing housing parts, whereupon the bearings for the upper roll are raised and locked in their raised positions. Then after removing the supports 80 with the lifting devices from the extensions 18, the turnplate may be removed and replaced in the same manner as described in connection with Figs. 1 to 4.

In mills of this type as heretofore constructed, it generally required about one day to remove and replace a turnplate and re-assemble the mill to resume operation, whereas with my improved constructions, this can be accomplished in twenty minutes or less.

It will be understood that various changes in the details, materials, and arrangements of parts which have been herein described and illustrated in order to explain the nature of the invention, may be made by those skilled in the art within the principle and scope of the invention, as expressed in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a roll mill having an upper roll and a pair of lower rolls, a turnplate between said lower rolls, housings at the ends of said rolls, each housing including a lower housing member and an upper housing member of substantially A-shape with downwardly diverging legs secured at their lower ends on said lower housing member, bearings on each of said lower housing members which are spaced from each other and in which said lower rolls are journalled, bearings for said upper roll, guide means on said upper housing member in which said bearings for said upper roll are arranged for movement of said upper roll toward and from said lower rolls, the middle portion of said lower housing member extending upwardly between the bearings for said lower rolls and being spaced below the level of said turnplate, and lift ing devices mounted on the middle portions of said lower housing members and engaging said bearings for said upper roll for raising said upper roll to a sufiicient extent to permit removal of said turnplate from said mill in the direction of its length.

2. In a roll mill having an upper roll and a pair of lower rolls, a turnplate between said lower rolls, housings at the ends of said rolls, each housing including a lower housing member and an upper housing member of substantially A-shape with downwardly diverging legs secured at their lower ends on said lower housing member, hearings on each of said lower housing members which are spaced from each other and in which said lower rolls are journalled, bearings for said upper roll, guide means on said upper housing member in which said bearings for said upper roll are arranged for movement of said upper roll toward and from said lower rolls, the middle portion of said lower housing member having a portion extending upwardly between the bearings of said lower rolls but terminating in spaced relation to the bearing of said upper roll, lifting devices removably mounted on said upwardly extending portions of said lower housing members and engageable with said upper roll bearings for raising said upper roll, and bearing retaining devices engageable with said upper roll bearings for holding the same in said raised position, said lifting devices being removable from said upwardly extending portions of said lower housing members when said upper roll bearings are held in said raised position to provide a space through which said turnplate may be removed in the direction of its length from said mill.

3. In a roll mill having an upper roll and a pair of lower rolls, a turnplate between said lower rolls, housings at the ends of said rolls, each housing including a lower housing member and an upper housing member of substantially A-shape with downwardly diverging legs secured at their lower ends on said lower housing member, bearings on each of said lower housing members which are spaced from each other and in which said lower rolls are journalled, bearings for said upper roll, guide means on said upper housing member in which said bearings for said upper roll are arranged for movement of said upper roll toward and from said lower rolls, the middle portion of said lower housing member extending upwardly and terminating in spaced relation vertically to the bearing of said upper roll, supports for said upper roll bearings removably mounted on said middle portions of said lower housing members for holding said upper roll, when in its lowest position, in spaced relation to said lower rolls, and means for raising said upper roll bearings, bearing retaining devices for holding said bearings in said raised position, to permit said turnplate to be removed in the direction of its length from said mill through the space above said middle portion of a lower housing member, when said supports are removed from said lower housing members.

4. In a roll mill having an upper roll and a pair of lower rolls, a turnplate between said lower rolls, housings at the ends of said rolls, each housing including a lower housing member and an upper housing member, hearings on each of said lower housing members which are spaced from each other and in which said lower rolls are journalled, bearings for said upper roll, guide means on said upper housing member in which said bearings for said upper roll are arranged for movement of said upper roll toward and from said lower rolls, the middle portion of said lower housing member extending upwardly between the bearings for the lower rolls, but terminating in spaced relation to the bearing of said upper roll, supports for said upper roll bearings removably mounted on said middle portions of said lower housing members for holding said upper roll, when in its lowest position, in spaced relation to said lower rolls, and lifting devices mounted on said supports in positions to engage said upper roll bearings for raising the same, and retaining devices for holding said upper roll bearings in raised positions, to permit endwise removal of said turnplate when said supports and lifting devices are removed from said lower housing members.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 585,335 Calvert June 29, 1897 659,116 White Oct. 2, 1900 895,005 Delbert Aug. 4, 1908 1,037,885 Fogarty Sept. 10, 1912 1,362,194 Shean Dec. 14, 1920 1,675,574 Mykins July 3, 1928 1,810,102 Faber June 16, 1931 

